Automatically advancing supporting and sliding form for introducing an in-situ concrete lining

ABSTRACT

A slide formwork with a formwork body (10) comprising several formwork segment groups (12, 22, 32) lying adjacent to one another in circumferential direction. Each of the formwork segment groups (12, 22, 32) is rigidly connected with one of several support frames (40) and is mounted onto the remaining support frames in slidable manner. Each formwork segment (14) comprises an outer formwork plate (16) supported on an associated longitudinal carrier (18) via hydraulic elements. The formwork plate (16) and associated longitudinal carrier (18) are coupled with one another in non-shiftable manner in longitudinal direction. Hydraulic presses (52) are arranged between the individual support frames (40), with which each support frame is shiftable with respect to the remaining support frames.

The invention relates to a self-travelling support and slide formworkfor producing a concrete lining. Such a support and slide formwork isnormally employed selectively in continuous, discontinuous orcharge-wise concreting operation.

In a known travelling support and slide formwork of this type (DE 30 43312 A1), advancement takes place by the pressure of the concrete, whichis introduced under pressure into the section of the annulus locatedbehind the front formwork. The known slide formwork of this type isprinciply suited for a continuous, discontinuous or charge-wiseconcreting operation. However, even in continuous operation, especiallyfor relatively thin concrete walls, the force of the concrete pumpedinto the region of the front formwork is often not sufficient to movethe entire formwork forwards. For discontinuous or charge operation,where the forward movement of the formwork is interrupted whenconcreting is stopped, tension or compression forces must be provided,which are supported externally, i.e. outside of the formwork itself.

For charge operation, where the formworking and concreting take placesequentially, formworks are known consisting of elements which can befolded or lowered and which lie on a support construction drivable alongthe axis of the tunnel. This formwork has the disadvantage that the workassociated with formworking and assembling is very time and costintensive.

A further disadvantage is that the formwork can only be removed from theconcrete when it has finally reached its load-carrying capacity, leadingto delay times which are economically relevant.

The special conditions in gallery or tunnel construction or also shaftconstruction require a concrete formwork, which on the one hand canslide forward either continuously or discontinuously and, on the otherhand, can be converted to a charge-wise concreting operation whenrequired without effort, for example when special reinforcements areneeded in particularly loaded sections of the structure or when sectionsare to be left open for recesses or cross channels, etc. The object ofthe present invention is to provide a self-travelling support and slideformwork, which in conjunction with a free selection among continuous,discontinuous or charge operation, enables the advancement of theformwork in all three types of operation under normal operationconditions, without the necessity of external counter-support points fortension or compression forces at any time, i.e. providing a formworkwhich travels by itself in all three types of operation.

In accordance with the present invention a self-travelling support andslide formwork is provided as defined in claim 1. Advantageousembodiments of the invention are given in the subclaims.

The present invention is described in the following by way of an examplein conjunction with the drawings, which show:

FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of a tunnel with circularcross-section, by which the entire profile is concreted in one workingstep;

FIG. 2 a sectional view of a tunnel with an arch-shaped cross-sectionand a floor, by which the floor has been preconcreted and the sidewallsand crown are concreted with the formwork of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a schematic longitudinal section of the slide formwork of FIG. 2with one embodiment of a front formwork;

FIGS. 4a, b, c various slide movements of a slide formwork in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a formwork segment;

FIG. 6 a variation, by which the slide formwork has two parts in theform of a preadvancing, finishing formwork followed by a similar supportformwork;

FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view of a formwork segment of the supportformwork in FIG. 6 and;

FIG. 8 a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of thehydraulic drive means of the formwork elements.

A formwork body 10 is provided in the embodiment shown in cross-sectionin FIG. 1 and also FIG. 2 of a self-travelling support and slideformwork which is subdivided into several formwork segment groups 12, 22and 32 lying adjacently in circumferential direction and parallel to theaxis. In the embodiment shown, each segment group 12, 22 and 32comprises four individual formwork segments 14 lying parallel to theaxis. Each formwork segment 14 comprises a formwork element facing theconcrete in the form of a formwork plate 16, which is connected to asupport sub-construction in the form of a longitudinal carrier 18 bymeans of hydraulically operated transmission members shown in FIG. 5 asexpandable hoses or tubes 50. The longitudinal carriers 18 are mountedon support frames, the foremost support frame 40 in the advancementdirection being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, while further support frames 42and 44 are shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

The formwork plate 16 of all formwork segment groups together form anouter formwork surface of the formwork body 10. According to FIG. 3, thesupport and slide formwork also comprises a front formwork 34 whichcloses the front side of an annulus formed between the outer walls ofthe excavated structure or an outer form mounted there, for example anouter concrete shell and the formwork body 10. The front formwork 34 issupported via a hydraulic guide means 70 variable in length mounted onthe foremost support frame 40 as seen in advancement direction.

The individual formwork segments 14 are shiftable longitudinally withrespect to neighboring segments, while each formwork plate 16 isadjustable in height with respect to its longitudinal carrier 18.Sealing elements arranged along and between the sides of the formworkplates 16 seal the mentioned annulus, i.e. they prevent leakage ofconcrete into the interior of the formwork body 10. The formwork plate16 and the associated carrier 18 of each formwork segment 14 areconnected in longitudinal direction in non-shiftable manner, while thehydraulic transmission member in the form of expandable tubes 50 arearranged for each segment 14 between the plate 16 and the carrier 18.

Depending on the application, several formwork segments 14 are collectedto form various formwork segment groups 12, 22 and 32. For a given slideformwork, just as many segment groups 12, 22 and 32 are provided as thenumber of support frames 40, 42 and 44. Each of the formwork segmentgroups 12, 22 and 32 is securely fixed to a different support frame 40,42 and 44 and is slidably mounted to the remaining support frames.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 independently operablepressure/advancement members are arranged between the individual supportframes 40, 42 and 44 in the form of hydraulic presses 52, with whicheach support frame 40, 42 and 44 is shiftable with respect to the othersupport frames.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, three formwork segment groups12, 22 and 32 and three support frames 40, 42 and 44 are provided, whereeach segment group of the embodiment makes up about 1/3 of the formworksurface. Depending on the application, it is readily possible to providemore support frames and formwork segment groups and/or to variouslyselect the width of the individual groups, for example by associatingadjacent segments in neighboring segment groups to one group in acertain application and to another group in another application andsecurely fix to the support frame responsible for shifting the group.Important for this selection is the frictional force to be expected inthe respective region of the formwork surface and/or the frictionalforces acting on the formwork segments when they are shifted out of theneutral position. A two-part embodiment of a slide formwork in the formof travelling finishing formwork 2 and a similar support formwork 4 isillustrated in FIG. 6. The formwork segments 14 of the two formworks 2and 4 are arranged to be in alignment with one another in thelongitudinal direction.

In the embodiments of formwork segments shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, fiveparallel arranged groups of expandable tubes 50 are provided, which aredisplaced on the back side of the associated formwork plate 16 or 16a inrespective chambers, defined by separation walls 20 and 20a. Theseparation walls 20 and 20a engage between and around the tubes 50. Theouter separating walls 20a are elongated and engage about the associatedlongitudinal carrier 18 as side holding elements, so that a transverseshifting between the formwork plates 16 and 16a and the longitudinalcarrier 18 is prevented.

The groups of expandable tubes 50 can be subdivided into individualchambers. According to FIG. 5, a hydraulic control arrangement 60 isprovided by which a predetermined pressure value can be selectivelymaintained in the respective tubes 50 or tube chambers. The hydraulicarrangement 60 comprises a hydraulic pump and a pressure limiting valveassociated with each tube 50 or each chamber, whose opening pressure isadjustable.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the formwork plate 16a is biased in aradially drawn back position with respect to the formwork surface bymeans of a tension spring. The formwork plate 16 also comprises anelastic deformable covering 17 on its side facing the formwork surface.

The operation of the self-travelling support and slide formwork will nowbe described in more detail based on FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 6.

To advance the framework, an arbitrary support frame, in FIG. 4a thecentral support frame 42, including the formwork segment groups securedto this support frame 42 (not shown in detail in the drawing) is shiftedby a preselected step length x by means of the presses 52 arranged onthe support frames 40, 42 and 44. Before beginning the shifting, theexpandable tubes 50 of the associated segment groups are switched totransport position, i.e. the pressure existing in the expandable tubesis held at a preselected value by the associated pressure limitingvalves and the hydraulic pump provided in the hydraulic arrangement 60.In this manner, the formwork plate 16, 16a lying next to the concretewall can react to changes in the surface of the concrete wall, i.e. theyrelax is the pressure increases or are driven out if the pressuredecreases. For example when the plate 16 of a formwork segment group 12,22 or 32 comes to a narrow section in the concrete, an increase inpressure is compensated by a pressure release valve, so that theconcerned formwork plate 16 or 16a can move inwardly. On the other hand,if the pressure in the expandable tubes starts to drop when passing awider section, the pressure is maintained by the hydraulic pump and theconcerned formwork plate 16 or 16a are moved radially outwardly.

As shown in the FIGS. 4b and 4c, the back support frame 44 with itsassociated formwork segment groups and then the front support frame 40with its segments groups are shifted forward respectively by the steplength x. When one of the support frames 40, 42 and 44 with itsassociated segment groups 12, 22 and 32 is shifted forward, it acts bymeans of the presses engaging against at least one of the other supportframes, whereby the stationary support frames hold their formworksegment groups against the concrete wall.

In FIG. 2, the formwork is carried on a guide rail, not shown in detail,by means of hydraulic support means, not shown in more detail. Thepressure in these support means is also controlled so that unevenlocations in the guide path, as well as convergences or divergences inthe path along the longitudinal axis of the formwork can be compensated,by correspondingly driving the support cylinder inwards or outwards.

In FIG. 3, the front formwork 34 is sealed along the circumference ofthe annulus to be filled with concrete by a sealing, not shown in moredetail. In addition, the front formwork 34 is carried by a pistonlongitudinally shiftable in a pressure cylinder of the hydraulic drivingmeans 70. Since the driving means 70 is rigidly secured on the foremostsupport frame 40 as seen in advancement direction, the relative positionof the front formwork 34 with respect to the annular closed frontcross-section of the formwork surface can be maintained, regardless ofwhether all of the formwork segment groups together form the frontannular surface or one or more of the formwork segment groups has beenshifted. In addition, the hydraulic drive of the front formwork 34enables the advancement of the formwork body 10 with its formworksurface, the advancement being independent to a certain degree of theintroduction of concrete into the annulus.

When the force of the concrete pumped into the front formwork issufficient compared to the friction forces, the entire formwork can bemoved forward as in the case of the known support and slide formwork ofthis type, without the above described movement of the formwork inpartial steps of the segment groups being necessary.

When concreting in charge operation, i.e. an operation where theformworking and concreting take place one after the other, the formworkplate 16 of each segment group 12, 22 and 32 could be removed from theconcrete wall for forward advancement to prevent frictional resistance.The forward movement of the entire slide formwork can therefore takeplace in sub-steps, where the individual formwork segments or segmentgroups are pressed against the concrete wall again after advancement, inorder to accept the reaction forces arising by advancement of thefollowing segment groups.

The two-part embodiment shown in FIG. 6 for the support and slideformwork is suited for such cases, where the concerned concrete sectiondoes not as yet have the necessary load-carrying capacity. In this case,the following support formwork overtakes the task of support until thenecessary load-carrying capacity is reached in the concrete section.

As discussed above, the following support formwork 4 is structured thesame in principle as the prior finishing formwork 2. The segment groupsof the finishing formwork 2 and the support formwork 4 are naturallychosen so that they lie in alignment in longitudinal direction with oneanother and are advanced together, so that no large gaps arise betweenthe formwork segment groups. The support formwork segments areadvantageously removed from the concrete wall before advancement. Thisis accomplished by equipping them with tension springs as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 7, which bias the plate 16a toward the associatedlongitudinal carrier 18. When the expandable tubes 50 are placed underless pressure or have no pressure, the formwork plate 16a is pulled backby the tension springs from the concrete wall.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of a support formworksegment, the formwork plate 16a has a covering 17 of elastic deformablematerial on the surface facing the concrete wall, which provides thatthe support formwork segment supports the full surface even in unevenareas of the concrete.

As the skilled person knows, it is possible, depending on the degree ofhardening of the concrete wall to be supported, to form the supportformwork segments with a smaller width than the actual formwork segmentsor when a certain load-carrying capacity of the concrete is alreadypresent, to only support certain areas, for example the crown or archregion.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a hydraulic support of the formworkelements. According to FIG. 8, a flexible tube 55 is arranged betweenthe opposing surfaces of the longitudinal carrier 18 and the frameworkplate 16. The enclosed chamber is closed along the sides by longitudinalside walls 20a, which are attached to the framework plate 16.

The flexible tube 55 only has a sealing function. The pressure of thehydraulic fluid is taken up by the chamber or the hollow space enclosedby the walls 16, 18 and 20a.

I claim:
 1. Self-travelling support and slide formwork for producing aconcrete lining when finishing a gallery or tunnel or similar elongatedstructure with a formwork body (10) extending in the longitudinaldirection of the structure and substantially parallel to its excavationwall, which is subdivided into several formwork segments (14) lyingadjacent to one another in circumferential direction, where eachformwork segment (14) comprises an outer formwork element (16, 16a)supported on an associated subconstruction (18), where the formworkelements (16 16a) collectively form an outer formwork surface, with afront formwork (34) which closes the front side of an annular spacebetween the excavated wall of the structure (2) and the formwork body(10) and with a support construction carrying at least thesubconstruction (18) of the formwork segments (14) comprising severalsupport frames (40, 42, 44) arranged next to one another, where thesupport forces to be exerted by the formwork surface on the incomingconcrete can be applied to the effective formwork outer surface by meansof hydraulically driven transmission members (50), characterized in thatthe formwork segments (14) form formwork segment groups, that at leastas many formwork segment groups (12, 22, 32) are provided as the numberof support frames (40, 42, 44), that each formwork segment group (12,22, 32) is rigidly connected to a different support frame (40, 42, 44)and is slidably mounted on the remaining support frames (40, 42, 44),that in each formwork segment (14) the transmission member (50) isarranged between the formwork element (16, 16a) and its associatedsubconstruction (18), that the formwork elements (16, 16a) and theassociated subconstructions (18) are coupled in non-shiftable manner inlongitudinal direction and that independently operablepressure/advancement means (52) are arranged between the individualsupport frames (40, 42, 44), with which each support frame (40, 42, 44)is shiftable with respect to the remaining support frames (40, 42, 44).2. Slide formwork according to claim 1, characterized in that threeformwork segment groups (12, 22, 32) and three support frames (40, 42,44) are provided.
 3. Slide formwork according to claim 1, characterizedin that the subconstructions of each formwork segment (14) are formed asa longitudinal carrier (18), which is rigidly secured to one of thesupport frames (40, 42, 44).
 4. Slide formwork according to claim 1,characterized in that the formwork elements are formwork plates (16,16a) between which sealings are arranged closing the formwork surface.5. Slide formwork according to claim 1, characterized in that thehydraulic driven transmission members comprise expandable tubes (50). 6.Slide formwork according to claim 5, characterized in that in eachformwork segment (14), at least two groups of expandable tubes (50)extending in longitudinal direction are arranged adjacent to oneanother.
 7. Slide formwork according to claim 6, characterized in thatseparation walls (20, 20a) are arranged on the backside of each formworkplate (16, 16a), which extend between and about the tubes (50).
 8. Slideformwork according to claim 7, characterized in that the outerseparation walls (20a) engage about the associated longitudinal carrier(18) simultaneously as side holding elements and prevent a transverseshifting between formwork plate (16, 16a) and longitudinal carrier (18).9. Slide formwork according to claim 8, characterized in that each tubegroup is formed from a continuous tube (50).
 10. Slide formworkaccording to claim 8, characterized in that each tube group comprisesseveral separately operatable tubes arranged after one another or tubechambers.
 11. Slide formwork according to claim 8, characterized in thata hydraulic control arrangement (60) is provided with which apre-adjusted pressure can be maintained selectively in each of the tubes(50) or tube chambers.
 12. Slide formwork according to claim 11,characterized in that the hydraulic arrangement (60) comprises ahydraulic pump and an associated pressure limit valve for each tube (50)or each chamber, whose opening pressure is adjustable.
 13. Slideformwork according to claim 1, characterized by a two-piececonfiguration in the form of one pre-advancing finishing formwork (2)and a similar following support formwork (4), whose formwork segments(14) are arranged in alignment with one another in longitudinaldirection.
 14. Slide formwork according to claim 13, characterized inthat the formwork plates (16) of the support formwork (4) are biasedinto a position radially inwardly with respect to the formwork surface.15. Slide formwork according to claim 13, characterized in that theformwork plates (16) of the support formwork (4) comprise an elasticdeformable covering (17) on the side of the formwork surface.
 16. Slideformwork according to claim 1, characterized in that the front formwork(34), which engages about the formwork surface in sealing manner, issupported on the foremost support frame (40) by a hydraulic operated,longitudinally shiftable driving means (70).
 17. Slide formworkaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the hydraulic operatedtransmission member in one formwork segment is formed as a flexible tubefilling out a chamber, which is formed between the formwork element (16)and the associated subconstruction (18) and is enclosed along thelongitudinal sides by side walls (20a).